3 ways to celebrate Valentine's Day in the midstate
Valentine's Day in Middle Georgia offers opportunities to dance and dine and to show some love for local causes. Here's a few fun things to do.
VALENTINE'S BALL
Traditional Elegance's Valentine's Day Ball benefits Caring Solutions Pregnancy Center, formally known as SAV-A LIFE.
"Caring Solutions is a passion of mine regarding crisis pregnancies," said Linda Solomon, director of Traditional Elegance and an advisory board member of the pregnancy center. "It's important for individuals in that situation to realize it's not a hopeless condition, that there are resources available."
Solomon says the center provides personal support, job training and assistance in adoptions, if needed.
"It isn't a place that speaks to you and then leaves you on your own, but actually walks through the process with you," Solomon said.
Entertainment at this black tie affair, happening Saturday at Anderson Conference Center, includes live music and performances by the Macon Symphony Orchestra, a Motown performance by international tour group Spectrum and a surprise local comedian.
"They will have you tapping away and dancing away," Solomon said.
Guests will dine on beef tenderloin with seared scallops or chicken breast followed by two dessert options. Wine is included with the meal and a cash bar also is available.
A prize drawing will be held for a vacation package for two to Las Vegas. Winners will stay three nights at the Palazzo, and the prize includes air fare. The drawing is open to the public for a $5 donation online.
Valentine's Day Ball with Traditional Elegance: 6-11 p.m. Feb. 13, Anderson Conference Center, 5171 Eisenhower Parkway. Tickets are $80 and sold in advance only. For more information, call 478-973-1762 or visit www.traditionalelegance.org.
VALENTINE'S DAY EXTRAVAGANZA
JD's Drama and Dinner Theatre will host its annual Valentine's Day Extravaganza to benefit local college students in honor of Stella Freeman Davis, the first black female captain with Bibb County Sheriff Department.
Stella's sister Dr. Diane Hollings writes the theater's scripts and says the annual performances began in 2009, shortly after Stella's death in February of that year.
"My sister was such a lover of the arts," Hollings said. "She believed that the arts were the means to transport people to places and times that they would never visit."
Guests will be entertained with a live, interactive drama set to live jazz music while dining on a four-course meal of appetizers, chicken marsala and dessert options. The event takes place Sunday at the Alexander Ballroom.
"People who are coming to the play, if they want to be part of the play, they are given a cue card that tells them what to say so they can be part of the event," Hollings said.
Performances typically last two hours. Afterward, guests can kick up their heels on the dance floor. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. so guests can be seated before the performance at 5 p.m.
JD's Drama and Dinner Theatre Valentine's Day Extravaganza: 5 p.m. Feb. 14, Alexander Ballroom, 3670 Eisenhower Parkway. Tickets are $40 per person or $75 per couple. For more information, call 478-747-8668 or visit www.jdsdramatheater.com.
VALENTINE SWEETHEART BALL
Learn some new dance moves at the Valentine Sweetheart Ball hosted by the Greater Macon Chapter No. 6059 of USA Dance at the Howard Community Club on Saturday.
"We have monthly dances for our members, but this event is a great time to invite the public to see what we do," said Agnes Bikus, chapter secretary and vice president.
Instructor Dianne Kent will begin the evening with a waltz lesson at 7:30 p.m. Afterward, guests can test their skills in ballroom dancing during this semi-formal affair.
Guests should bring a dish for the potluck dinner and can enjoy other refreshments for a donation. Bikus says to wear red but no jeans, T-shirts or running shoes are allowed.
"It's hard to dance in tennis shoes, let me tell you," Bikus said.
Valentine Sweetheart Ball: 7:30-10:30 p.m. Feb. 13, Howard Community Club, 5645 Forsyth Road. Tickets are $8 for USA Dance members, $12 for nonmembers, and $5 for students with ID. For more information, call 478-743-7970 or visit www.usad6059.org.
This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 5:09 PM with the headline "3 ways to celebrate Valentine's Day in the midstate ."